Dahl aims to become missing piece for Rox
Since being drafted tenth overall by the Rockies in 2012, David Dahl watched many of the Rockies’ regulars rise from the minors and cement themselves into Colorado’s big-league lineup. For Charlie Blackmon, it was a 6-for-6 hit parade during the homer opener in 2014. For Trevor Story, it was a sizzling start to 2016 in which he mashed ten April homers.
And for Dahl, a coming-out campaign seemed imminent in 2016 as well. In that rookie season, he hit .315 with 24 RBIs after being called up in late July and recorded a knock in 17 straight games to tie a major-league record for the longest hitting streak to begin a career.
But a nagging rib injury wiped out Dahl’s progression last year, limiting him to a handful of games in the minors, and he was relegated to Triple-A Albuquerque to start 2018 despite leading the Rockies with five home runs and 18 RBIs in spring training.
So is now the time — follow-
ing Dahl’s call-up Sunday — for the Rockies to stock up on No. 26 jerseys in the team store? Dahl is certainly concentrated on making the most of the opportunity, making his second straight start Monday with Carlos Gonzales on the 10-day disabled list and Gerardo Parra serving a four-game suspension.
“Last year was very hard — they were winning and I wanted to go up and help them in the wild-card game,” Dahl said. “So I’m excited to be back here, because it has been a long road, especially with the injury last year. I’m just going out and try to help the team win in whatever way I can — playing hard, having good at-bats, not trying to do too much.”
The 24-year-old was 1-for-4 in Sunday’s loss to the Cubs, recording his first major-league hit since 2016, and then carried that momentum into Monday with an infield single off a sharply hit ball to shortstop in his first at-bat out of the No. 4 hole.
And for an offense ranked thirdto-last in the N.L. with a .223 team average heading into Monday, manager Bud Black expects Dahl will be a catalyst with his bat and his legs.
“There’s multiple things he can do — he can run, he can steal a base, he can run in the outfield to go get balls, he’s got some pop in his bat and I think he can hit for average,” Black said. “I have a great deal in confidence in his ability, and I think there’s a strong belief with him that he can be very successful as a major league player.”
And with a stint on the sevenday disabled list earlier this season (stomach virus) behind him, the final step of Dahl’s evolution from prized prospect to bigleague starter could be one hot streak away.
“He’s had some tough breaks, for sure, health-wise and stuff like that early in his career, but he can do some damage really no matter
where he’s at on the field or in the lineup,” said Story, who was Dahl’s minor league teammate. “I think you’ll be able to see that pretty soon.”
Footnotes. After the Rockies and Padres brawled the last time they played April 11, Black believes the teams will put the bad blood in the past: “Those things have a tendency to run its course, and I think it’s over. I think the Padres feel the same way.” … Considering the roster shuffling over the past couple days, Black reiterated that the Rockies must capitalize on all levels of the franchise in order to advance back to the postseason: “For us to get to where we want to be, there’s going to be contributors from Triple-A, from potentially Double-A.”